Enhanced disclosure
An enhanced disclosure is a type of disclosure used to help employers make sure their employees or volunteers, are suitable for certain types of work.
You may need an enhanced disclosure if you apply:
- to adopt a child
- for a gaming or lottery licence for your business
Information included in an enhanced disclosure
Disclosure Scotland gathers criminal history and other relevant information from the police and some government departments.
An enhanced disclosure includes:
- unspent convictions
- relevant spent convictions
- unspent cautions
- inclusion on children's or adult's lists (if it's relevant to the job)
- other relevant information held by the police
- information from the Sex Offenders Register
Applying for an enhanced disclosure
Most people who need an enhanced disclosure apply through their employer. They'll give you a paper or digital form to complete which they'll then send back to Disclosure Scotland.
You have to be a registered body to apply for an enhanced disclosure. Alternatively, you can use an umbrella body to make your disclosure applications for you.
Organisations can download forms to return by email for:
Organisations can ask for paper forms to return by post.
Once the required checks have been made, both you and the registered body who applied for you will be sent a copy of the enhanced disclosure certificate.
Cost of an enhanced disclosure
An enhanced disclosure costs £25. This is payable as part of the application process using one of the payment methods listed in the application form.
You will not get a refund unless Disclosure Scotland has made an error or you have paid for a disclosure for a coronavirus (COVID-19) priority response worker.
How long it takes
90% of disclosure applications are completed within 14 days (not including postage time). You're likely to receive your enhanced disclosure certificate within this time, as long as there are no mistakes or requests for more information.
If you submitted your disclosure application more than 14 days ago, you can contact Disclosure Scotland to check the progress of your application.
Email: response@disclosurescotland.gov.scot
How often you can use an enhanced disclosure certificate
Most employers will ask you to get a new enhanced disclosure certificate, even if you already have one when you are offered the job. This is to ensure the information on your enhanced disclosure certificate is up to date.
Enhanced disclosure certificate number
If you already have an enhanced disclosure but cannot find your certificate and need to know your number you can contact us to ask for this. Your certificate needs to be current.
